The American(27 Mar. 1960)

Between scenes of a movie ("Sands of Iwo Jima") in which he appears as an extra, Pima Indian Ira Hayes recalls the horrors of the actual battle of Iwo Jima in which he forever sealed his ... See full summary »

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Between scenes of a movie ("Sands of Iwo Jima") in which he appears as an extra, Pima Indian Ira Hayes recalls the horrors of the actual battle of Iwo Jima in which he forever sealed his fate in history as one of the men who raised the flag in the world-famous photograph taken during the battle. Written by
Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

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the powerful portrayal of Lee Marvin depicting the readjustment of war hero Ira Hayes back into civilian life. Such as that was on a backwater reservation full of poverty and neglect. I was just a child when I saw it and was so moved by the power and command Mr. Marvin put into this role. This story stuck with me for years thereafter, especially the final scene of him drowning in a muddy puddle, too drunk or too spent with despair to lift his head even one more time to save his life, such as it was...with the memories of horror of war and unrealized promises from his government after his "Hero Status" was over. One of Lee Marvin's greatest dramatic TV roles and a brave choice for him at the time. Ira Hayes must have been on many minds during that year because Tony Curtis starred as "the chief" in 'The Outsider'. Two very different actors playing the same tragic historical figure that became the norm when our soldiers returned from later world conflicts. Looking back it was a prophetic depiction of the GI's to come. Alienated, forgotten, not feeling like heroes of any sort, just wounded men searching for their place in the America they left behind but could never find again.

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